Giles

At a Glance

Meaning

Young goat

Origin

Greek, via Latin and Old French

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

JYLESListen

Giles comes from Greek, passed down through Latin and Old French, and its meaning is ‘young goat.’ You might come across the claim that Giles means ‘a great man,’ but that's not accurate — the name actually traces to Saint Giles and the Greek word for young goat, not to any word tied to greatness. If you want a name with a clear, verifiable backstory rather than a flattering guess, Giles has one.

Meaning & Origin of Giles

Meaning: Young goat.

Origin: Greek, via Latin and Old French.

A common claim: Giles means 'a great man' Actually: Not supported by the etymology — Giles actually traces to Greek for 'young goat,' via Saint Giles.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Giles

Popularity of Giles

Giles hit its high point on the SSA list in 1881, ranking #367 with 21 babies given the name that year; by 2024 it had dropped to #5104, with just 19 babies named Giles.

Names Like Giles

These names have followed a similar path to Giles in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Nelle
• Celestino
• Alys
• Arda
• Ary
• Daisie

FAQ

What does the name Giles mean?

Young goat. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Giles?

Giles is pronounced JYLES (IPA: /dʒaɪlz/).

Is Giles a popular name right now?

Giles peaked at #367 in 1881 and is ranked #5104 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Giles Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Giles, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.